Mandatory Massages: Get Deep With Your Muscles

Elementary
Mandatory Massages: Get Deep With Your Muscles

Massage Therapy (via elementfitness)

I have a massage therapist. But not because I'm a spa girl. I have one because I work out.

I'm on the table last week, and I finally get around to asking massage therapist Anthony Gittens, my go-to guy at Element Fitness, why his combination of Swedish, deep tissue, and energy palpation leaves my muscles so much softer. The relationship between massage and fitness is symbiotic, he explains while working out my shoulders.

"Fitness gives you defined, sculpted muscles by breaking down tissues through contractions," he says. "When you work out, the contractions cause waste products like heat and lactic acid to form." Massage works that lactic acid out.

That amazing relaxed feeling after a massage comes because, as Anthony tells me, "Massage removes swelling, revives muscle tissues, and calms nerve tissue." Your body can do all that on its own, but if you're working out as much as I am (thank you New Year's Challenge), massage can really help speed the healing process.

I'm enjoying my reframed thinking. Stretching after a work out helps to alleviate swelling and stiffness but sometimes that's not enough, and massage isn't an indulgence anymore, it's a health and fitness must. Good thing it feels so nice.

Massage

www.socialworkout.com

The BBC says: "Having a big bum, hips and thighs is healthy"

... but we already knew that, right? This report from the BBC is a must-read. Remember, it's a (relatively) small waist that is desirable in terms of health. Having a big bum, hips and thighs is healthy;

Hip fat mops up harmful fatty acids and contains an anti-inflammatory agent that stops arteries clogging.

Cheers to the BBC!

The new year has come around again, marking the end of 2010 and start of 2011.
Most Americans make a New Year’s resolution related to fitness, health and weight loss.




While the will usually starts strong, people tend to trail off from their goals, failing to stick to their exercise and fitness plans. Of course, you don’t want to be that person, so here’s some tips on how to successfully stay committed to your New Year’s fitness resolution.

Make a plan. A thought out, realistic, formulated plan is necessary to begin any exercise routine. Think about your schedule and find an optimal time for your workout. Designate that amount of time for exercise and be sure to keep it routine. If something comes up that changes your daily routine, find a new time to fit exercise into your schedule.

Remember that exercise comes in a variety of forms. You could get a gym membership, take up a new sport, look into martial arts, go jogging or simply work out at home. Think about which exercise you’d most enjoy and explore your options.

Find someone to be your workout buddy. It shouldn’t be too hard, considering that so many people have a similar New Year’s resolution. Having someone there to endure the exercise and, if you’re taking up classes, learn with you can really help you stick with your plans. They don’t only make working out a much more fun task; your workout buddy gives you a reason to go. Commit to this resolution together and be there to encourage and support each other’s efforts.

Set short-terms goals within your larger plan. When you achieve them, reward yourself. You’re working on your fitness and health for yourself. Occasionally rewarding yourself for your hard work helps you encourage yourself to stay dedicated by making steps to your final goal.



Happy New Year from all of us at Element Fitness!




Want to know more? Read more!:
http://www.workoutsforyou.com/NY_article.htm
http://www.edietstar.com/articlestips/fitness.html
http://topnews.us/content/29501-sticking-new-years-fitness-resolution-important
http://www.tryingfitness.com/new-years-fitness-resolutions/

Ta-Nehisi Coates hits it out of the park

This is a stunning, heartbreaking, beautiful article about the intersections of race, fatness, shame, and inspiration. One of the most gorgeous and honest things I've ever read on this subject. Astonishing. Grateful thanks to Ta-Nehisi Coates for this.

No more fat talk!

It's Fat Talk free week (hopefully forever, but you gotta start somewhere). Read this lovely article over at Shapely Prose for more.

Also, here's an awesome video to help you and yours end fat talk.

Fat, Fit, and Healthy!

Who says people cannot be fat, fit, and healthy? Newsweek has such a wonderful slide show of happy healthy people here.